Some Russian airlines are flirting with the possibility of setting up Turkish-based carriers to circumvent sanctions, which have prevented them from leasing aircraft and accessing maintenance and repair facilities after the invasion of Ukraine.
Nordwind Airlines-owned Pegas Touristik and Azur Air-owned Anex Tourism Group are considering setting up new airlines in Turkey and have been in talks with leasing companies to acquire aircraft, according to people familiar with the matter. the issue and spoke to Bloomberg.
Unlike state-owned Aeroflot, which flew to about 56 countries before invading Ukraine, Azur Air and Nordwind mainly transport Russian holidaymakers to tourist destinations. While in Russia, they both belong to major tourism companies controlled by Turkish businessmen. The carriers have not been individually sanctioned, so the moves will not violate the rules, sources said, asking not to be named when discussing private matters.
European Union sanctions have forced leasing companies, mainly based in Ireland, to terminate their leases to airlines in Russia and bar carriers from flying into European airspace. The airlines, in turn, refused to return planes to the charterers after the Russian government, determined to maintain the country’s air links, forced them to apply for a permit before delivering back aircraft.
Anex may install a new plant in Antalya, the main junction for Turkey’s southern coast, with a fleet of narrow and wide-body Boeing aircraft, one source said. The group is in discussions with several landlords, such as Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Aviation Capital Group, as well as AerCap Holdings and Boeing Capital, according to the person.
Pegas may start an airline called Southwind, sources said, adding that the new carriers could be up and running this summer.
Anex is also considering using an existing airline license to start flights and has been in talks with charter airline Tailwind, one of the people said. Pegas is also looking at Armenia as a base for a new airline, one person said.
Prior to the Russian invasion, Azur Air had a fleet of 34 Boeing aircraft, according to data from the monitoring site planespotters.net. Nordwind had 28 aircraft, including Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
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Source: Capital
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